Pathways 2.0 Towards Recognition of Non-Formal Learning/Education and of Youth Work in Europe

Reflecting the participatory nature of youth policy, the current paper was developed together with youth organisations, the main providers of non-formal education in the youth field, mainly represented by the European Youth Forum. A further number of stakeholders were involved in the reflection when starting to re-draft this paper such as National Agencies and SALTO Resource Centers of the Youth in Action Programme, the communities of trainers and researchers as well as policy-makers from various levels and backgrounds. The aim of this Pathways paper 2.0 is to provide a new vision and an outline on how to sustain and to foster the progress made until today and, even more, to go beyond the achievements made so far. This aim is based in the political agendas of the two European institutions, Council of Europe and European Union and the expectations of many providers of non-formal learning/education and of youth work. The political agendas are documented on the one hand in “The future of the Council of Europe’s youth policy: Agenda 2020” and on the other hand in “A renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018)”. The Pathways paper is addressed to all those interested in further improving the status and relevance of youth work (and - as part of it - of non-formal learning) and involved in developing and implementing better strategies and instruments for recognition.